Pictured Above: Dr. Helen Levine, the regional vice chancellor of external affairs, will retire Sept. 4.
Courtesy of Terri Cruz
By Aya Diab and Sophie Ojdanic
For more than a decade, Dr. Helen Levine was the face of USF St. Petersburg in the corridors of government and the communities of Tampa Bay.
At legislative meetings, she helped explain academic policy and coax more dollars into the university’s budget. She was the eyes, ears and voice of the campus at social functions and community gatherings.
Now, the regional vice chancellor of external affairs is retiring on Sept. 4.
Levine, 63, joined USF St. Petersburg after serving three years as a policy and communications adviser for then USF President Judy Genshaft. She also worked for the city of St. Petersburg and Hillsborough County government, according to her biography.
Her retirement was announced by Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock in a letter to staff.
“Helen has been a tremendous asset to the University of South Florida,” Tadlock wrote. “Her presence on our campus and her advocacy for the university, the city and the county has been nothing short of phenomenal.
“She has helped the university navigate through some of its most challenging times and served as my proverbial ‘right arm’ since I assumed the role of Regional Chancellor.”
Before joining the USF administration, Levine was on the leadership team of then-Mayor Rick Baker at St. Petersburg City Hall.
“I was impressed with USF St. Petersburg and the role the campus could play as the city redefined itself as a destination for learning, playing, and doing business,” Levine said.
Levine serves on the boards of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and Tampa Bay Business for Arts and Culture and Vision Florida.
In the past, she served on the boards of the Gulfcoast Jewish Family and Community Services and the Downtown Waterfront Parks Foundation. After more than 10 years on the Florida Holocaust Museum Board of Directors, she now serves on its advisory board.
“My Dad was an academic and my first school was only available to children of university staff or employees,” Levine said in an email to The Crow’s Nest. “What a bubble! Both my parents were deeply engaged in the community and taught my siblings and me the Jewish value of tikkun olam, which translates to repair the world.”
“I have been very lucky that my employment and my community work allows me to continue my parents’ tradition of making our communities better.”
Levine’s work helped raise USF St. Petersburg’s total recurring budget by more than $8.75 million and achieve a fixed capital outlay of more than $30 million, according to Tadlock’s letter.
Several facilities on campus were built using that state support, including the University Student Center, Lynn Pippenger Hall and the renovation of Davis Hall.
“I have great pride in watching the arc of the development of this campus,” Levine said. “We have several new buildings but more importantly we have expanded programs to serve our students, families, and the community.”
Levine earned a bachelor’s degree in social work, a master’s in higher education and a doctorate in foundations of education from Florida State University. In 2017, she was named Educator of the Year by FSU’s College of Social Work.
After a decade in her position, “it was time” to retire, Levine said.
“My career in the public sector includes state, regional, local government, and higher education,” Levine said. “I am fortunate that my work has always resonated with my passions and my interests.
“I look forward to having more time to learn new skills. I have apprenticed myself to a master gardener and look forward to dirty hands and fresh veggies.”
It is unknown who will replace Levine in the coming months.
“Whoever follows me will have a meaningful job working with superb, passionate professionals,” Levine said.
